Method of Updating Contact Information on Merchant Websites
A method of updating contact information on merchant websites includes maintaining a plurality of contact records containing a plurality of fields. The contact records and corresponding fields are distributed to a merchant website. The information located at the merchant website is automatically updated when an updated contact record becomes available.
1 . A method of updating contact information on merchant websites, the method comprising:
(a) maintaining a plurality of contact records, wherein the records contain a plurality of fields;
(b) distributing the contact records to at least one merchant website; and
(c) automatically updating the contact record at the merchant website when an update becomes available.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contact records contain directives.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the directives contain rules pertaining to the distribution of the contact records.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution of step (b) occurs when a contact record is created.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the distribution of step (b) occurs when a contact record is altered.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the contact record contains contact data related to an individual.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the fields represents a single unit of data corresponding to an individual.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fields includes a credit card number.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fields includes bank account information.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the merchant website is used for online shopping.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a storage device utilized by the merchant website stores the contact record for future use.
12 . A method of maintaining updated contact information for use on merchant websites comprising:
(a) maintaining a plurality of contact records, wherein the contact records contain a plurality of fields;
(b) storing the contact record in a file associated with the merchant website; and
(c) automatically updating the file whenever an update to the corresponding contact record is available.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the file is an Internet cookie.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the contact record contains contact data related to an individual.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein one of the fields represents a single unit of data corresponding to an individual.
16 . A merchant website updating system comprising:
a storage device capable of storing a plurality of contact records, the contact records having a plurality of fields;
a merchant website server capable of receiving one or more contact records; and
a communication system configured to distribute one or more contact records from the storage device to the merchant website, wherein the communication system distributes the one or more contact records when a contact record is created or altered.
17 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of contact records contain directives.